Striped Robe 

William Brice created this intriguing image, Striped Robe, using lithography, a printmaking technique that relies on the tension between oily and non-oily surfaces to transfer an image. The lithographic process is fascinating. The artist draws on a stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then treats the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawing. The image is then printed onto paper, creating a multiple. Here, Brice uses dense areas of line work to describe the figure in the image. The pressure of the lithographic process has been carefully controlled to transfer the maximum detail to the paper. Look closely, and you can even see where the artist has allowed the greasy medium to run, creating a slightly blurred, or smudged effect. Lithography democratized image-making, making art more accessible and allowing artists to explore the relationship between original and copy. Considering the material and process of lithography invites us to appreciate the skill involved, and challenges our assumptions about art and labor.